Material handling device



Nov, s, 1938.

o. A. WIRKKALA 2,135,994 MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed July 28, 1933 2 Sheets-$116M l Urea/v1. mikka/a INVENTOR 0a A W ATTORNEY Nov. 8, 1938. o. A. WIRKKALA MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Filed July 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 afi cdr/qm jna/a,

INVENTOR @am A 1 42%!- IZZe ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 8, 1938 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATERIAL HANDLING DEVICE Oscar A. Wirkkala, Seattle, Wash.

Application July 28, 1933, Serial N0. 682,683

7 Claims. (01. 294-48 This invention relates, generally, to devices end of this rope is attached a so-called ferrule, applicable to a variety of material handling op.- often variously referred to as a knob or thimble. erations. In the use of such' equipment objects A ferrule is a piece of metal preferably of cylinof Various sizes and shapes are secured by said drical form, hollow inside. It is made, preferequipment and sometimes suspended in and ably, of the best grade of alloy steel adapted to transported through the air for greater or lesser use under the high impact duty it is frequently distances depending upon the nature of the masubjected to in service. The ferrules are slipped terial being handled. over the ends of the rope, the wires thereof spread Anobject of my invention is to so design this out in conical form, cleaned and then molten device that the lines or handling wires used may metal, preferably zinc, is poured over and com- 10 be quickly and easily connected and disconnected pletely surrounds the wires and this metal ad to this device, and to provide for their positive heres to and becomes an inseparable part of the retention therein and against accidental disconwire rope constituting the choker rope. This nection from said device, and to design into the operation is called socketing and is very clearly structure means to facilitate these objects. set forth in my US. Patent No. 1,496,142. This It has also been a desirable object to so design method, or some variations thereof, has found the portions of this device through which WiIG practically universal adaptation in the rope fields rope, and such handling cables pass, asto miniindustry.

mize the bending stresses at present set up within Sliding upon this choker rope, between the two 90 said cables by hooks of present design due to ends thereof, is the choker hook. bending them around to small radii, and I have I attain these objects in my choker hook conalso provided for adequate bearing surfaces where sisting of more than one piece and, in general, cables are apt to slide or have frictional contact of a sleeve portion adapted to freely slide on a with said device thereby causing wear and crysrope having retaining elements at each end and tallization in metal cables, and further to so dea body portion formed with a base, retaining 25 sign all parts that they have stresses properly walls and a bail member which passes through distributed to resist the operating loads imposed the sliding sleeve above referred to and connects upon them. 7 with the base part and the retaining walls. The

A further and very important object to be space over the base part and between the sides 33 provided for, as a means of users reducing operof the bail member and beneath the sliding sleeve ating costs by this device, is the complete elimiis sufiicient to allow easy passage of the ferruled nation of kinking of cables, andI have therefore end of the choker rope into the space above the designed this device in more than a single piece base and lying between the bail side rods. so that the parts can adjust their relative posi- In its simpler form my choker hook comprises 35 tions to equalize the pull or strain of the hauling two parts, while in a different design and for 35 lines and thus act as an automatic adjustment different uses more parts may be used without to any variation in direction of strain or pull. impairing the usefulness or novel features thereof.

A still further object is to provide a device Fne sleeve portion of my hook is curved so as which in service will not be likely to pick up to slide freely along the choker rope and to also 46 small objects such, for instance, as brush and allow the rope where it leaves the sleeve to have earth as in logging and construction operations quite a large curvature so as not to unnecessarily and which will easily clean of such debris. wear said rope.

As stated herein this device is applicable to The sleeve or sliding part of the hook has moveall kinds and classes of material handling. It ment on said bail member relative to the angular has avery useful and proven field in the logging direction of pull on the choker rope passing industry and, therefore, the objects may as stated through the eye of the sleeve and the ferruled above and as may hereinafter appear 'or be apend of the rope bearing on the base. This flexiparent and for purposes of more accurate debility allows sufficient automatic adjustment of scription of use in a specific industry, be referred the hook parts as to eliminate the causes of kinks 50 to those uses, and objects, and a description in ropes, with their resultant relative high costs 50 found particularly in this field. of replacement.

The specific adaptation of this deviceto log- Thecable ends may both be ferruled or one ging operations is as a so-called choker hooki, may be ferruled and the other terminate in a because it is used in co-operation with a length noosein any event the ferrule is larger in diam- 5 of wire rope called a choker rope. On each eter than the hole in the sleeve through which the cable passes thus allowing the hook to slide between the two ends without becoming disconnected.

In the event both ends are ferruled, one end of the choker rope is passed around the log and the ferrule on this end is inserted into the choker hook, the other ferrule on the other end being inserted in a bull hook when its carriage is brought out for a new load of logs.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my two piece choker hook and illustrates how the choker rope passes through the sleeve and shows one ferruled end seated upon the base of the hook;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. l with the cable not shown;

Fig. 3 is a partial section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 and further illustrates the base portion of my hook and the retaining walls for the ferrule;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1 looking toward the base;

Fig. 5 illustrates a hook of the same general features as shown in Fig. 1 illustrating, however, the manner of using a bail member made from a separate piece of metal cast in place;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a partial section taken on line 'I-'I of Fig. 5 and further illustrates the base portion of my hook and the retaining wall for the ferrule;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5 looking toward the base.

My choker hook as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 comprises two pieces, element 25 being the body portion and a sleeve portion 26 through which a choker rope I8 is reeved. At one end of said rope is secured a ferrule I8a the diameter thereof being greater than the rope diameter and also greater in diameter than the reeveway in sleeve 26. The other end of the rope I8 is extended and at the termination of said extended end is secured a ferrule or a spliced eye may be provided. Thus the working parts consist of the combination of the body portion 25, the automatic adjusting sleeve 26, and a choker rope I8, at one end or at each end of which is attached a ferrule.

In my present choker hook the ferrule I8a may be inserted between the bail member side rods from a wide angle of approach it being unnecessary to carefully align the ferrule with the entrance hole 38. Side rods 28 of the bail member are of carefully rounded section (see Fig. 4) so as to provide maximum strength to resist operating stresses and also to give maximum strength with minimum weight, thus fulfilling the objective of easy handling, less production cost, etc.

As shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the shoulders or retaining walls 29 extend from the base surface 25a upwardly toward the curved portion 260. of sleeve 26. The inside curvature of the sleeve 26 as seen in Fig. 2 is adapted to contact and freely move about the diametral section of bail mem ber 28 which is preferably rounded at this central point so as to provide easy movement to the various positions the choker hook may assume in operation,

The inside of the reeveway in the sleeve 26 is also curved from side 26d to side 26e in such a manner as to permit a rocking motion of said of bail member 28 and as shown at 269 of Fig. 2.

The walls 29 are pierced by an entrance hole 30 through which a ferrule IBa. may be projected and then turned at an angle to seat on surface 25a behind walls 29 and rope I8 retained by beam 21.

The inside curvature of the wide portion of sleeve 26 forms a cable-way, and is as shown at 26h, in an easy curve to permit even distribution of loading of the choker cable and further curved as at 26f to permit easy seating and sliding of rope in said sleeve and the curvature of the inside of sleeve 26 is made to correspond with the surface at 261, 26g and 26h and to give proper distribution of metal for requisite strength and to resist stresses imposed upon the structure.

The outside surface of sleeve 28, preferably, follows closely the shape of the interior surfaces thereof providing sufficient rigidity and strength where required.

.As shown in Fig. 3 the ferrule I8a is so positioned as to bear evenly and directly upon base surface 25a. The choker rope I8 extends through the rope entrance 3| and is retained in slot end 3 Id formed by the curved beam 27.

The entrance hole 30 may be larger than shown so that the cable ferrule may be more easily inserted. This increase may be accomplished by reducing the heighth of the walls 26 or by increasing the length of the bail and the diameter of the hole 30. The bail may be considered to include the walls 29.

The sleeve 26 is adapted to be moved freely on the bail 28. The sleeve can slide along the curve of the bail and it can also swing from side to side upon the rounded cross-section of the bail. This allows the sleeve to have plural motion and to alignitself with the resultant of the forces acting on the choker hook. 7

Examination of Fig. 4 will disclose the absence of any restricting elements whereby free movement of a ferrule into the space between said side rods 28 of said bail member would be prevented. v

It is an important feature or object herein to provide for the insertion of the ferrule element into said space without the necessity of accurately positioning said ferrule before projecting it through entrance hole 38 in an endwise manner.

The dotted positions of the ferrule and cable shown in the figures, illustrate the ease with which the ferrule may be inserted from various angles through the opening 30.

In this type of hook the bail is formed as a part of and'is integral with said base. The bottom of sleeve 26 acts as an abutment to limit movement of ferrule I 80. from base surface 25a. Surfaces 28a of Fig. 4 of side rods 28 act as abutments in directing the ferrule IM to surface 25a.

The choker hook shown in Figs. 5, 6, '7 and 8 is a three piece type wherein there is a base I25, a sleeve I26, and the bail I28. The bail is placed through the sleeve I26 and secured into said base I25 in an approved manner.

The entrance hole I30 is formed by the walls I29, the bail side rods I28 and the bottom surface of sleeve I26 which acts as an abutment surface wherein movement of the ferrule IISa from the base surface I25a is limited.

The same free entrance from a wide angle of projection is provided as described for Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, as also is the movement of sleeve I26 about the surfaces of bail I 28.

The metal surrounding the ends of bail I 28 and connecting and securing said bail to base I25 acts through but not the enlargement thereof, a body member comprising a slotted base, a bail attached to said base, a slotted wall extending from said base and said bail and so formed relative to said sleeve as to permit the entrance of the cable en.

largement between the side portions of said bail and the passage of the cable only through the slot in said wall, said wall slot communicating with the slot in the base, said bail member passing through said sleeve to permit movement there-between thereby eliminating excessive bending stresses within said cable, and distributing the load on said sleeve more equally upon said cable thereby eliminating the occurrence of destructive localized wear of said cable.

2. In a material handling device, a cable provided at its end with a retaining enlargement, a choker hook comprising a sleeve through which said cable is extended and a base with an integral bail, said bail passing through the lower interior portion of said sleeve and adapted to permit cooperative movement thereon, a transverse opening formed by said base and the side portions of said bail in cooperation with the lower exterior portion of said sleeve, and a longitudinal slot leading from said transverse opening through the base of the choker hook for receiving the cable and having its rear end closed to form a seat for said enlargement, shoulders formed along opposite edges of the open side of the slot from the seat to said transverse opening to prevent displacement of the enlargement from the choker hook except when turned at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the slot.

3. A choker hook, comprising: a bail, a base, and a sleeve; said base being formed with a portion of an elongated slot which has closed ends in said bail, a portion of said slot .at an angle to said base portion being wider than other portions of said slot, said bail being secured to said base, a portion of the length of said bail being curved, and rounded in cross-section, said sleeve encompassing and having plural motion on said curved portion, and said sleeve encompassing a cable-way.

4. A choker hook, comprising: a bail, a base, and a sleeve; said bail and base forming an enlongated slot with closed ends, a portion of said slot in said bail being wider than other portions of said slot, a portion of the length of said ball being curved, and rounded in cross-section, and said sleeve encompassing and having plural motion on said curved portion, and said sleeve encompassing a cable-way.

5. A choker hook, comprising: a bail, a base, and a sleeve; said bail and base forming and having therein an elongated slot with closed ends, a portion of said slot in said bail being wider than other portions of said slot in said bail, said base being at an angle to said bail, aportion of the length of said bail being curved, and rounded in crosssection, said sleeve encompassing said bail and having plural motion on said curved portion, and said sleeve encompassing a cable-way.

6. A choker hook, comprising: a bail, a base, and a sleeve; said bail and base forming and having therein an elongated slot with closed ends, a portion of said slot in said bail being wider than other portions of said slot in said bail, said base being at an angle to said bail, a portion of the length to said bail being curved, and rounded in cross-section, said sleeve encompassing and having plural motion on said curved portion, and said sleeve being curved to fit the curve of said bail and having a curved cable-way.

'7. In a material handling device, the combination of: a cable and an enlargement on one end of said cable; and a choker hook, comprising: a bail, a base, and a sleeve; said bail and base forming and having therein an elongated slot with closed ends, the width of said slot being slightly greater than the diameter of said cable and smaller than said enlargement on said cable, a portion of said slot in said bail being wider than the other portions of said slot in said bail and Wide enough to pass therethru said enlargement on said cable, said base being at an angle to .said ball, a portion of the length of said bail being curved, and rounded in cross-section, said sleeve encompassing and having plural motion on said curved portion, and said sleeve being curved to fit the curve of said bail and also encompassing a curved cableway to receive said cable.

OSCAR A. WIRKKALA. 

